Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-08
WHITE FLOWER;
OR,
THE COMANCHE'S DREAM.
A Romance OF Savage ChiValTy and
Texan Val0r in the Days
Of Slavery.
+. sEsss The I ate COL. e. Z. c. JUDsoN

Copyright, 1887, by william CaulCWeu. AL
rights reserved
sCHAPTER V.
-Four days baG elapsed since Lagona
had left the camp of the Comanches and
his fathers eyes were often and YEARLY
cast toward the east; and though, with
the usual stoicism of the savage, he
Sought to conceal his anxiety, Nemahaha
could not utterly hide his feelings. But
as tue sun was just sinsing in the west
en- the evening of the fourth day the
young chief came riding furiously into
camp, both Of his horses covered witt
foam aud dust Of rapid travel.
Upon his garments were the rents and
stains Of battle; upon his face, a cloud Of
bitter anger. When he rode up in front
of his fathers lodge he threw himself
from his horse and without speaking 8
word, either to Nemahaha or the war
riors VINO gathered around, he entered
the lodge and cast himself upon the earth.
"The face of my son is dark. His
heart is in q cloud. We will let him rest
and then he will tell Us what he has
seem" said the old chief to his warriors;
and then he lighted his pipe and sat
down before the WigWam, aud all the
rest did the same.
The sun went down behind the rocky
cliffs; twilight came and then darkness;
but the moon and stars came cut aud
gave light power over Night. For
i long time the old chief and his follow
erS sat end smoked, and LsSOna remain
ed silent within the lodge. But at last
he came forth and raised his hand as q
sign that he was about to speak.
"Warriors," said he, "Lagona has
been opening his ears to a dream, and
blood has run because he did SO! The
hand cf Ltgons is red with the blood of
the Lipans His belt is full Of their
scalpS. Their women mourn for PekitO,
their young chief, for LagOna killed him
They will ask for Lagona's life, they will
come here f-r his scalp! 1t is well.
There is no need for more blood to run.
When they come, tell them LagOna is
ready. He will go and sleep now"
Aud the young Indian turned to the
lodge, as if he intended to lie down again.
RuG Ncmahaha rose, and glancing from
his son to the warriors, said:
dreams come from the Great Spirit
they come unbIdden, when we sleep, and
cannot help ourselves. II L4gOna has
Obeyed the spirit Of his dreams, snd blood
has followed, who shall blame him If
he has fought the Eipans he has done it
like brave If they come for his scalp
they must first take ours. If be has done
right, we are glad. Ii he has done wrong, it
matters not; ne is still Comanche chief t,
and no Lipan dog must seek to gnaW his
bones. have spoken!"
The air was rent with spplsuding yells
when the OH chief sat down; and the
fierce warriors rejoiced at the thought of
battle pastimes close at hand.
Lagona turned again, and said:
only father mas spoken. His warriors
have echoed his words. LagOna hears
them. If the Lipans come, he will strike
them. If they do not, he will 60 where
the Great Spirit leads him-for his dream
is not all fulfilled! Let the guards be
awake; the Lipans are snakes and very
cunning!"
Again the cry of approval came from
the lips of the fierce and dusky thrOng;
and then they separated, some to go upon
the scout to look for their expected foe,
others TO prepare for the battle-for well
they knew tnat the vengeance OF the
Lipans could only sleep in death, and
that they would soon seek for reparatiOn
for their recent loss.
CHAPTER VI.
La BOlsa de Flores-the Lap of Flow
ers. In all Texas no pre- tier place could
be found than the estate of Valian
Delorme, the father Of Stella. Through
the valley meaudered the bright Guada
Ioupe, its banks overspread with lofty
trees-back from these lay luxuriant
fields and floWery meadOws-and, still
further back, ranges of rolling hills, pre-
senting perspective as varied as it was
beautiful.
The mansion was situated in beanti
full grove. the negro quarters and other
out-buildings were near, and all was
surrounded by strong wall OF
adobes, or suu-dried bricks, &C
cessibIe only through q strong gate; for
though in the richest part of the state,
yet the plantation was a frontier settle
ment, and liable to the occasional incur
sIOns of the savage Lipans or Commences.
There were large herds OF cattle graz
ing about, guarded and watched by
mounted and armed herdsmen, and in the
fields numerous gangs OF slaves were at
work. Yet lovely as was the scene, grand
as was the mansion, gloom sat up0r every
face within its walls, except two; for the
life of the homestead, the angel of the
domain, was missing. While on a ride
with her father aud few friends, Stella
Delorme had beer borne away by band
of red marauders, and several of those
who bravely fought to save her
had been killed in the attempt, and the
remainder, with her father (who had
fought with DESPERATION had been driven
back. But ne knew no rest until, giving
the alarm to the gallant rangers, he with
them started in pursuit Of the dreaded
and hated abductOTs.
Two there were, | said, within that
dwelling whose faces were not clOuded
for the loss of Stella. One was the wife
of Mr.. Varian DelOrme, though not the
mother of Stelia-for he had linked him
self BIZ a second marriage TO a fashionable
lady artifcially good-Iooking and possess
ed of many fimsy sUperhCialtties and
accomplishments; but Eever trace Of a
heart could be found about her. And
though when Mr.. DelOrme was present
she protested a very sincere, in truth a
very passionate, attachment for Stella,
she hated her from the bottom Of her soul
If she had one. But Mr.. Delorme's
wealth was her ambitiOn-that for which
she married him, and would at any time
have comprised his death.
The other, VINO wore no shadow OF
gloom upon his face, was her nephew-or
at least he was supposed to be-one Paul
Maerson, wild and rather dissipated
young man, whom she had kept ever I'M
der her especial protect and who,
through her influence, had been regularly
installed as an inmate of the mansion.
But when at the plantstlon his conduct
was ever uneXceptionabie, for Mrs. De-
lorme had determined that by hook or
crook he should marry Stella, for the in
trlguing woman could not besr that any
- E IL Nnln,-rrn o. nc.ntn chnInlG